my megazoom 105 canon camera don't close anymore and on the LCD display is this flashing message : 3E Tank you. Vivian Balaban

-- Vivian Balaban (balaban_v@yahoo.com), March 16, 2003

Answers

You camera has suffered a broken gear if you can grab the lens assy and pull it outward until it reaches its normal position. (you have to turn it off and back on and do it fairly quickly). Then it will be able to shoot properly. This gear can be seen if you take apart the cameras top rear cover, there are only 3 tiny screws holding it on. And the gear assy you are looking for is directly UNDER the shutter/zoom switch (which will be a "tearable" flex PC Board when the rubber button pads removed) These gears are black, and if you gently pull/push the base lens ring assy while watching these gears you will find one of them has lost a tooth. This is a terrible thing since I have not found parts for this camera anywhere. And I dont think it would be worth paying a camera shop to fix it since they are not cheap. My camera is nearly 10 years old and I will replace this one prior to my next vacation. However if anyone finds where to get these tiny gear parts let me know, I dont throw away stuff like that until about 10 more years!

good luck.

-- Richard G (killspam@theswitchdoctor.com), September 19, 2003.